A few months ago I bought a Rousseau Portamax TS stand and outfeed extension. Since my supplier was out of stock on the Rousseau outfeed, I bought the Makita branded one. It, and the Makita TS stand, appear in every way to be identical to the original Rousseau products (with the exception of the powder coated metal parts which are black on the Makita and grey on the Rousseau). The Makita outfeed even uses the same model # as Rousseau, with the addition of a two-digit prefix.
It appears to me that Rousseau is now building for and supplying to Makita. Or perhaps Makita has an interest or majority share or owns the Rousseau company.
Can anyone shed light on this? I’m a fool for apparent trivia.
Ken Hill
Replies
Ken,
I don't know the answer to your question. I just want to mention what a great tool that stand is. I bought mine on the spur of the moment. I dropped by a local tool supplier who had a bunch of tool reps displaying their wares. There were also free plates of barbecue, fried chicken and hush puppies. Truth be told, the free food was my main interest in the event. Despite what some people from Texas say, North Carolina has the best barbecue in America. As I was eating this fine meal, made all the more delicious by the fact that it was free, I started talking to the Makita rep, telling him how much I like his portable table saw--with the exception of the wimpy fence, which I overtightened and bent on the first day I had my saw. He then knocked $100 off the price of the stand, which comes with that great, heavy-duty fence. So, I bought the stand and the outfeed table on the spot. In my opinion, this get-up has tripled the functional value of the saw.
HI, John-
Agree with you. I'm 100% happy with this setup.
Ken Hill
I was reading Gary Katz's book on finish carpentry on page 30 he said that rousseau is making the stand for mak. Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Heya, Ron!
Yeah, well, that finally confirms my suspicions. My stand is Rousseau and the outfeed is Makita. The production methods and components are identical.
I would have read that for myself in Katz' book, except I didn't take home the book that Barnes & Noble got for me. It was the first printing, and as Jim Blodgett's review stated, the photo quality was to be improved for the second printing. Guess I'll keep trying for the second!
Ken Hill
Ken definately wait for the second printing the picture do leave a lot to be desired. But It is a good book. It covers things that in my opinion that are not in your normal Finish carp book lots of good info. Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Hey guys,,I started with Rousseau like 10 years ago,,and I love the saw stand,,really,I have a Powermatic 66 in the shop, but before I could rake up the cash for it I did everything with the Rouseau set up and a Mikita table saw,,coudent do my stuff without it,,we have two sets of tools now, one for the job , one that never leaves the shop,but the Rousseau set up with the Tsquare fence, still makes me money,,,,John Hyatt deckmastersllc.com
hi john, sure enjoy your book, working alone. i bought the rousseau 2750 saw stand for the makita tablesaws, its the one with the wheels . have you ever had this problem? the front rail is dimpling. could the fence be to tight. or is there something else wrong? any input on the rousseau saw stand would be helpfull. also, ive tried to find the saw stand material supports you got at harbor freight. do you know any other place where i could find those? do you have a picture of them, so i could break out the welder and make some myself? thanks for your help. again, sure enjoy your articles and books. oh , do you have a website, where you could be contacted. thanks gerry.
Wow. Six year old thread. Hopefully john Carroll still hangs out here. :o)
thanks ken, would you know if john carroll has a web site?, or how can he be contacted. thanks gerry
Not sure, haven't seen J. Carroll here in a while, but I only lurk here infrequently. Perhaps a member search and a PM? Other BT members will know more.
I'd contact Rousseau (1 800 635-3416). I found them responsive and helpful when I had problems mounting my PC 3812 to their MobileMax stand. Got 'em resolved and am very pleased with the stand- rock solid.
"The inherent vice of capitalism is the uneven division of blessings while the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal division of misery" Sir Winston Churchill
If you didn't already buy one, try the Kwik Stand. It has the outfeed incorporated in the design. No add-ons. No parts to assemble or loose. It is much sturdier than the others also. I looked and looked for a good stand and wouldn't spend money on either Roussseaus' or Trojans'. I think you can see it on E-Bay.
The Rouseau sure looks to be a better stand than that Kwikie stand. The out feed table is a joke.